LSU offensive lineman ruled out for rest of season

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron announced on Monday that left tackle Anthony Bradford will be “unavailable” for the rest of the season.

The news of Bradford’s injury is stunning as Orgeron had stated the Monday before the Ole Miss game that Bradford is “fine”

“Anthony is fine,” Orgeron had said on Monday. “I thought we would have to get half the team to pick him up off the field he’s so heavy. I tease him all the time. I love Anthony. I recruited him from Michigan. He’s a great young man, and he’s playing really good right now. But he’s fine. He can play.”

Anthony Bradford was splitting time with Cam Wire at left tackle, was injured in LSU’s win over Florida, but did play against Ole Miss on Saturday.

Wire had been injured but is expected to return after LSU’s bye week for the Alabama game.

In addition to the loss of Anthony Bradford, Orgeron announced safety Major Burns and cornerback Cordale Flott will not practice this week, but will be expected back this season.

Anthony Bradford is in his third season at LSU. Entering the 2021 season, the Michigan native had made ten appearances but no starts. Bradford made his first start against Auburn on Oct. 2, becoming the fourth left tackle to start a game for LSU this season. Junior Cameron Wire suffered an undisclosed injury in the first game, and redshirt freshman Xavier Hill and freshman Garrett Dellinger have also filled in at the position in addition to Bradford.

LSU is already without a number of contributors on both sides of the ball. On the offensive side of the ball, top wide receiver Kayshon Boutte will miss the remainder of the season due to a leg injury. Coupled with eligibility issues for running back John Emery Jr. and offseason departure of tight end Arik Gilbert, LSU has an inexperienced group of skill position players.

Defensively the Tigers will be without a number of crucial defensive players for the rest of the season. Defensive end Ali Gaye, cornerback Eli Ricks, cornerback Derek Stingley, defensive end Andre Anthony and defensive tackle Joseph Evans are out for the season.

LSU is currently on a bye week after a 31-17 road loss to Ole Miss and a stretch of games. The Tigers schedule doesn’t get any easier after the bye as they head to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama and home games against Arkansas and Texas A&M in the span of four weeks.